Trophies, Travels and Epic Adventures
Photo by Kelly Gerlach
Glennallen Girls’ Cross-country team won 1st place at Regions and 2nd place at the State Cross-country Championship.
Coach Kelly Gerlach
Congratulations to Glennallen Girls’ Cross-country team for their 1st place win at Regions and 2nd place trophy at the State Cross-country Championship in Anchorage.
While they missed first place by only three points, the girls all ran great races at State, two with personal records and one season record. With just four points between the 1st and 3rd place teams, each athlete ran to the best of their ability to contribute to their teams’ 2nd place trophy.
Glennallen’s team also placed first at Regions with Teagan Rude, Brynna Gerlach, Cheyenne Fields, Kayla Abbott and Madison Carlton all medaling for placing in the Top 10. Teagan, Brynna, Madison and Cheyenne also received Academic Award Metals.
Ethan Vollema, Glennallen’s only boy runner, kicked off the season by winning the Glennallen 5k dual with Newhalen. Vollema missed qualifying for State by just two points but still placed 12th with a personal record of 24:15 at Regions. Vollema is entering his high school wrestling season in top shape!
In addition to our fabulous capture the flag games, some of our season highlights were coffee in a train car at Soldotna and our Kodiak trip where we raced among the bunkers at beautiful Fort Abercrombie, enjoyed the antics of bears everywhere (fortunately from the safety of our car), canoeing, rope swings, swimming in the ocean, beach caves and sea glass and the Russian and WWII museums! We also got to experience the Monet exhibit in downtown Anchorage.
Teagan Rude led the Panther team this year, placing 2nd at Regions with an impressive time of 21:58. Teagan received Top Ten medals for every race she ran this year, including the one at Colony against mostly 4A teams. Her competitive times, work ethic and attitude are an asset to the team!
The team’s only senior, Brynna Gerlach, served as team captain this year and was a constant inspiration, encourager and positive leader to the team of younger runners. She placed in the top 10 at ACS and ended the season well with a season best at State, arguably the most difficult XC course. Glennallen XC will miss Brynna next year!
Cheyenne Fields ran consistently strong races to bring success to the Panthers this year. Cheyenne is always up for a new adventure and constantly encourages and offers to help others. Her consistency in athleticism and character made her an easy choice for the ASAA Good Sport Award for Cross-country running Championships.
Kayla Abbott ran strong all season but drastically advanced even more during the critical last two races at Region and State, improving over a minute on these two hilly courses. It will be exciting to see where running takes this freshman athlete as she continues on the path to excellence.
While Chisana Korth wasn’t able to finish the season due to illness, she did a great job supporting the team as Manager.
Madison Carlton stepped up to fill the fifth and last scoring position on the team with continual improvement with each race. She ran her personal best at State to help the team bring home the State Runner-up trophy.
While she wasn’t able to run at State, Raylie Sutherland ran strong for the Panthers all season, challenging the girls during speed days with her fast sprint times. She ran her personal best at Regions with a time of 27:58.
Off the field, the team was able to share some of their time and talents by visiting, singing and sharing original vocal and piano compositions at the Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home. We are always thankful to be welcomed into this venerable community and hear their perspectives on what life was like in a past era.
Team members and some hearty parents also gathered over a gallon of cranberries as a thank you for team grandparent, Doris Gerlach, for her years of service in feeding and housing the team.
I will always see coaching and sharing life adventures with past and present excellent and admirable cross country humans as a life highlight! The teams and I have much to be thankful for on so many levels.
To our assistant coach and great inspiration in so many ways, thanks SO much to Coach Mickey for her never-ending support, enthusiasm and skill in running and her ability to find the fun in everything. Our four teams couldn’t have made it without her!
In addition to the teams’ dedicated and encouraging parents, the staff at GHS has been a huge support. Our teams also very much appreciate being able to eat healthy and sleep in a quiet home with beds thanks to team grandparents: Bob and Doris Gerlach and Rita Sailors.
At the close of this most wonderful year, we think of you all with grateful hearts!
Next week’s paper will feature highlights of the Junior High XC season!